Animation Students Connect with Industry

Students from the BA Animation course had the opportunity to network with animation professionals at Manimation, an animation conference which took place at Manchester's new venue, HOME, in partnership with the Manchester Animation Festival. The conference was sponsored by the Manchester School of Art and BA Animation programme leader, Andy Wyatt introduced the day, which consisted of panels, presentations and case studies including a keynote addresses from BBC Director of Children’s, Alice Webb and CEO of 9Story Media and Media Entrepreneur Neil Court. The conference also had guest speakers from PixelBomb Games, TT Games, Factory, CITV, Studio Liddell, Creative Skillset and Cosgrove Hall Fitzpatrick. The animation students were involved as volunteers, assisting the speakers and organisers given them contact and exposure to industry professionals. The BA Animation course has excellent links with the animation industry and to have our students working alongside some of the key players in animation is a fantastic opportunity.

BA Animation students worked as volunteers at Manimation, the industry conference for animation.

One of the sessions, at Manimation which was a joint session with the Manchester Animation Festival was a panel discussion with three studios from Manchester, moderated by our very own Steve Henderson (who also happens to be the co-director of the Manchester Animation Festival and Editor of Skwigly animation magazine).

Drawing at the English National Ballet

In November, the BA Animation students were invited by the English National Ballet to draw their dancers warming up and practicing for a performance of Romeo and Juliet at the Palace Theatre in Manchester. Life drawing is a key element to the animation course, and to be given the chance to draw some world class dancers in action was an opportunity to great to miss. Animation is all about movement and performance, and to study these dancers was an amazing experience for the students. An exhibition of the drawings is planned for the new year.

BA Animation students and Animation Programme Leader, Andy Wyatt at the Palace Theatre, Manchester after a drawing session with the English National Ballet.

A couple of examples of student drawings from the ballet.